Hecate's Own: Heart's Desire, Book 2 (17 page)

“So you think they already know where we are?”

You betcha.
Zach inched forward, careful to make no
sound.

Davis was so intent on his son he didn’t see Daniel slide up
behind Kerry and begin to cut through her bonds. Good. He didn’t want the
mundane girl caught in a magical firefight. She’d be completely helpless,
possibly brain fried by the magical energy that would swirl around them.

Daniel would take care of Kerry. It was up to him to take
care of Davis and Hugh.

“Father.”

Zach closed his eyes.
Not now, damn it!
Daniel hadn’t
finished freeing Kerry. So why had Gen chosen this moment to step into the
clearing?

She glowed so brightly it was almost impossible to see her.
Her hair whipped around in a wind that didn’t exist. Her eyes were the only
part of her that he could see easily.

Those eyes were clear, the intent in them firm. Genevieve
Godwin was going to destroy her father even if it destroyed her in the process.

“Genevieve. I’ve been expecting you.” Davis turned and fired
at the tree, snarling in rage when Daniel yanked Kerry out of the way just in
time. “Bitch.”

“I know you are, but what am I?” Daniel sang out from the
trees.

Zach rolled his eyes and stood, pulling his wand from the
pouch at his hip. He pointed it at Hugh Godwin, who stared at him with wide
eyes. He narrowed his own and mouthed
“Pow.”

Hugh Godwin took the coward’s way out. He turned tail and
fled into the trees, hopefully into the waiting arms of Gareth and Chris.

“Get back here, you coward!”

“It’s done, Father. Your coven is gone, your sons scattered,
your altar broken.” There was a strange, echoing quality to Gen’s voice Zach
had never heard before. It shivered through him, called to something deep
inside him, deeper than even his wolf went. His wolf bowed before that
something, allowed it to come to the fore. Allowed like to recognize like.

Gen was channeling the Goddess herself.

“My altar isn’t broken.”

Gen raised her fist and smashed it into the altar. The altar
broke in two, neat as you please. Green fire licked along the edges, cleansing
away the blood that had pooled on it. “It is now.”

Davis backed up, horror etched into his features. “What have
you done?”

Black smoke curled up around the edges of the altar. Gen
stepped toward it, only to go reeling back, coughing, her glow dimmed at the
edges where light met dark.

Zach stepped out from behind his bush, shocked. “What the
hell?”

“Possibly.” Gen moved to flank Davis, who was gibbering
insane nonsense. “Be on your guard.”

Zach’s attention returned once more to Davis. He realized
the man wasn’t spouting gibberish, but some complicated spell that had nothing
to do with a human language.

Zach didn’t want him to finish what he’d started. He lifted
his hand and sent Davis sailing into a tree, knocking the wind out of the
warlock and ending his devilish chant.

“Zach, look out!”

Gareth rushed between him and the altar, taking a hit from a
black tendril that reached out and wrapped itself around the wizard with
startling,
hungry
speed.

“No!” Gen’s howl pierced through the Goddess’s voice, a
woman’s cry of loss.

Zach was acting before she’d finished. He pointed his wand
at the altar, ready to blast it to pieces.

Gareth moaned. A look of pure bliss crossed his face. His
head tilted back, his mouth fell open. His eyes squeezed shut as he shuddered.

Fuck. Tell me he’s not
enjoying
having his soul
shredded!

Then Zach saw the same look on Gen’s face, and knew why she
thought Gareth would hate her. The Own was somehow
inside
Gareth,
fighting the darkness that threatened him, her essence twined with his. A faint
glow emanated from Gareth’s skin, green as bottle glass. The black tendril
reared back, repulsed by…whatever the fuck Gen was doing.

Zach didn’t have time to figure it all out. He had to keep
Davis—and the fucking thing inside the altar—busy long enough for Gen to free
Gareth and for Daniel to get Kerry out. He glanced over at where he’d left
Davis.

The man was gone.

“Shit!” He whirled around, barely stepping out of the way of
the descending knife.

“I wonder how much power an Own would give me?” Davis was
crazed, his eyes glittering dangerously. “I was only going to take your mate
and let you die horribly. Instead, I think I’ll take you.”

“Good luck with that, asswipe.” Zach’s glow intensified
until it rivaled Gen’s. “You’re going down.” Zach held up the amulet Chris had
given him. Hecate’s Wheel faced the warlock. The wolf nestled against his palm.
He narrowed his eyes and poured everything he was into his plea.

“Hecate, Lady of the Night,

Help this witch to put things right.

What evil this man has done

Let it now be undone.

By the law of three times three,

As I will so mote it be!”

The last phrase thundered in the air as Zach poured his will
into the amulet and lashed out at Davis Godwin with all his might.

The sound that poured from Davis was never meant for human
throats. Darkness leapt from Davis’s body into the shattered altar, becoming
one with the evil miasma that still surrounded it.

And out of the knife that fell at Davis’s feet, white light
poured forth as the freed souls of at least three witches took flight, forever
free of the Godwins.

The last thing Zach saw was Gareth, his expression shocked,
leaping toward him.

Chapter Eighteen

Jo tapped her fingers against her thigh and kept an eye out
for roving Godwins. The pains in her arms, legs and especially foot were
growing. She’d need to get that checked out before infection set in. They’d
need to go soon. She was starting to feel a little woozy. “I’m Henery the Eighth
I am, Henery the Eighth I am, I am. I got married to the widow next door, she’s
been married seven times before, and every one was an Henery Hene-ry! She
wouldn’t have a Willy or a Sam no Sam! I’m her eighth old man I’m Henery, Henery
the Eighth I am!” Jo took a deep breath and another glance around the grove.
“Second verse! Same as the first! I’m Henery the Eighth I am—”

“Gods, what has this man been
eating?
”

Jo jumped at the grumpy sound of Gareth’s voice.

“Anything he can get his hands on?” Gen’s voice was so weary
Jo had to wonder how badly the battle had gone.

Wait. Who is Gareth carrying?

Jo stood, not caring who heard her moving about. If Gen and
Gareth were this close and this grumbly, things must have gone well.

Gareth and Gen stepped through the trees. Gareth had Zach
slung over his shoulder, Gen’s hand keeping him steady. “He’ll be all right.”

“He’d better!” Jo limped over as quickly as she could. “What
happened?”

“He poured too much of himself into stopping my father.” The
sorrow in Gen’s face was matched by the weary slump of her shoulders. “He’s
dead.”

Jo’s heart stopped. “Wh-what?”

“Oh! No, no, no! My father, not Zach! Zach’s just burned
out. He’ll be fine with rest and food.”

Gareth had the most peculiar look on his face. He refused to
look at Gen. “Let’s get him out of here.”

“Where’s Hugh?” She knew one of the Godwin boys had gotten
away. Had the other?

“He booked when he realized the odds were against him.”
Gareth marched forward, Zach swaying boneless in his grasp. “Let’s go, ladies.
Time’s a-wasting.”

Gen schlepped forward, her feet dragging. The Own looked
beaten, defeated.

Jo placed her hand on Gen’s arm. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

Gen stopped, her head dropping. Jo could feel the tension in
her. It had to suck knowing that your family, the people you were supposed to
love and trust most in the world, were psychopaths. “Thank you.”

Jo blinked, confused. She had the feeling Gen hadn’t been
talking about her father.

Jo limped after them, more worried about Zach than any
infection. She kept her eyes open, just in case Hugh decided to take a parting
shot at them.

They arrived at the sandy beach to find Chris, Daniel and
the beaten blonde waiting for them. Daniel was standing over the blonde, arms
crossed, a scowl on his face. The blonde glared at him defiantly, but Jo could
see the way her hands trembled.

Chris rubbed his hand over his face. “Kerry, Lana’s going to
want to know you’re all right. You
know
how she gets.”

“She’ll freak out. Besides, you know she doesn’t want me
involved in the woo-woo stuff.”

“She was trying to protect both of you.”

Kerry shrugged. “Whatev.” She winced. “Hospital. Gonna need
one. I’m pretty sure I have a broken rib.”

“Shit.” Daniel bent down and picked her up. “We need to get
back across the river.” He climbed into the passenger seat, Kerry settled on
his lap. “Where the fuck is Zach?”

“Right here.” Gareth carefully lowered Zach’s unconscious
body to the ground. “Davis is dead. Glowbug lit his ass like the Fourth of
July.”

Daniel looked torn, but stayed put, keeping the squirming
blonde on his lap with a well-placed, muscular arm. “Will he be all right?”

“She says so.” Gareth pointed toward Gen with his thumb
without looking, his voice taking on an odd timbre. Jo couldn’t place it, but
if push came to shove she’d say it was embarrassment.

“He needs lots of food and rest. He’s depleted his reserves.
Every action has a price, and Zach is paying for saving us all.”

Chris nodded. “Anyone else hurt?”

“Me.” Jo limped forward. “But I think that’s it.”

“There’s a dead body back there with no marks on it, a
dagger that’s…shit.” Daniel ran his fingers through his hair wearily. “I’ve
never seen anything like it, man. The metal’s twisted, the handle cracked. I
don’t think anyone will be using it as anything other than scrap ever again.”

“The souls cleansed the blade when they were freed.” Gen
collapsed wearily on the sand, her eyes closed. She looked fragile. “I’m going
to need some alone time soon.”

“What?” For the first time since they met up with her Jo saw
Gareth look at Gen. And the expression on his face did not bode well for the
Own.

“There’s always a price to pay.” Gen’s eyes closed, but she
didn’t pass out.

“Fuck.” Gareth ran his fingers through his hair. “And our
handy-dandy car skipper is still passed out. How do we get back?”

Chris and Gareth stared at the car. “Good question.”

Gen sighed. “I can open a portal to the other side of the
river.”

Chris stared at her. “You can?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Jo tried not to giggle when Gareth scowled. “Why didn’t you
say so? We could have avoided that!” He jabbed his finger at the river. He
looked so put-upon, she had to wonder what they’d…

Wait.

She stared at the SUV, just now registering the significance
of its presence. “Um. How
did
the car get here?”

They hadn’t seen hide nor hair of Gen since she’d opened a
portal wide enough to get the car through. Jo had no idea what the Own’s price
was going to be for channeling the Goddess the way she had, but from the way
Gen’s body had drooped she bet it was going to be significant. Gareth was still
a little wild-eyed around the Own, so it was no shocker that he’d also managed
to disappear. Whether they were together or not was anyone’s guess.

Jo was thinking not. Every instinct she had screamed that
Gareth would need to come to terms with whatever Gen had done that had messed
so much with his head before he’d be able to accept the Own as, well, his own.

Kerry and Jo had been to taken to the hospital, where they’d
claimed the truth. They’d been kidnapped by some crazy guy who was into devil
worship, and they’d been lucky to escape with their lives. Since the kidnapping
had occurred in Pennsylvania but the victims had been taken across state lines,
the feds were called in.

Kerry and Jo decided between them that the Beckett name
would be kept out of it. Hugh and Arthur Godwin would also be kept out of it.
Mundane feds couldn’t handle two warlocks.

Hecate’s Own would hunt them down. Jo knew Zach would be
right in the middle of it.

“Hey.”

Jo looked up, shocked to see Prince Roland standing at her
bedside. “We have to stop meeting like this.”

Roland smirked. “Hospital gowns look so good on you though.”

Jo bopped him on the arm with her book. “Where’s Ari?”

“Outside, talking to some very growly men. Who the fuck are
they, anyway?”

Jo shrugged. “Probably the Becketts.”

She could practically hear Roland’s teeth grinding together.
“When are you coming home?”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“Am not.”

“Are too.”

“Am not.”

“Are… Jo. Please don’t do this to me. It’s undignified.” He
hitched up his leg until he was seated on the side of her bed. “Besides, I’ll
tell your mother you were mean to me.”

Jo’s head dropped back. “Why oh why did we have to be
kindergarten buddies?”

“You’re just pissed because she likes me better.” She felt
him brush her bangs off her forehead. “You okay?”

And there was her friend, the one she’d have done anything
for just a few short weeks ago. “Believe it or not, I’ve never been better.”

He snorted. “You sure about that?”

She lifted a hand and pulled aside the shoulder of her
hospital gown, exposing Zach’s mark. His indrawn breath was all the answer she
needed.

Roland groaned. “Damn it. I owe Ari ten bucks.”

Jo giggled. “You should know better than to bet against your
wife.”

“I know. The woman’s a shark.” His hand gripped hers. “Don’t
leave the court, Jo. You’re one of the few people who keep me sane.”

She opened her eyes and squeezed his hand back. “I have to
be where Zach is.”

He nodded. “So be it.” He stood, and Jo wondered what he was
up to. He had that look on his face that had gotten her into way too many
scrapes in grade school. “I’ll see you soon.”

She frowned. Her eyes narrowed dangerously. She broke out
her Brünnhilde voice, ready to do battle on Zach’s behalf. “Roland…”

“Not the voice, not the voice!” He ran out of the room,
leaving her laughing in her bed.

“Nut.”

“Yes, he is, but he’s a worried nut.” Ari swept in, sniffed
the crisp, ten-dollar bill in her fingers, and sighed. “Ah, I love the smell of
defeat in the morning.” She grinned and flopped into the chair next to Jo’s
bed. “You know, we have to stop meeting like this.” She propped her feet up on
the edge of Jo’s hospital bed. “Well?”

Jo laughed. “Yes, we’ll invite you to the wedding, just so
long as Roland doesn’t try to still my fiancé.”

“Got it. I’ll put a leash on him.” She leaned forward and
propped her chin on her hand. “Details.”

Jo’s brows rose.

“Length, width, motion in the ocean. C’mon, girl, spill.”

“Please don’t. It might scar me for life.” Daniel walked in.
“Zach is awake.”

Jo sat straight up, ignoring the way her stitches pulled.
“When are you busting me out of this joint?”

“In about an hour. I’ll take you over to Annabelle’s once
the paperwork goes through.” They’d decided to drop Zach off there to sleep off
the effects of the spellcasting he’d done on the island. Annabelle had made her
way from Chris’s house, Lana in tow, demanding that the Evans women be the ones
to take care of him. No one had objected, least of all Jo.

Annabelle and Jo would have to make their peace, but she
knew Annabelle loved Zach and would take good care of him.

“How’s Kerry?”

Daniel’s jaw clenched. “Stubborn.”

Jo bit her lip. The woman had bitched and griped at Daniel
the entire time he’d held her, only giving up when she’d been given a sedative.
Daniel, pissy at the best of times, had turned downright evil, but only
after
Kerry had passed out. He’d sat there and absorbed her barbs with an eerie calm
that had Jo wondering just what retribution he had planned for the little
blonde. Whatever it was, for some reason Jo was betting on the mundane girl.

Ari patted her knee. “Well, I’ll leave you here. Ro looked
like he was up to something, and I want to know what.”

Me too.
“Remember, keep him leashed.”

“I’ll try, but no guarantees.” Ari kissed Jo’s cheek. “See
you soon.”

“’Bye.” Jo settled back down and tried not to worry about
what Roland was up to. Too bad she didn’t succeed.

Zach lay on the sofa, ordered by both Lana and Annabelle to
stay still or die. Zach, not being stupid, stayed still.

Besides, he was starving. They’d promised to order pizza if
he rested. He’d lain down on the sofa and told them to order in two.

Lana had laughed, but Annabelle, shaking her head, had
picked up the phone and dialed.

God, he loved the Evans women. Chris was one lucky son of a
bitch.

“When did Daniel say he was bringing Jo?” He longed for the
touch of his mate like nothing else. Not even the touch of the Goddess could
compare.

He lifted his hand, the one that had been twisted, and
stared at the image burned into his palm. He could move it now with no pain,
the redness and swelling that had mocked his failures gone. Hecate’s Wheel now
looked like a dark-inked tattoo, supple and flowing.

He knew it would glow with just a thought.

“As soon as the doctor signs the paperwork. He said he’d
call when they were on their way.”

Zach nodded. “Good.” He needed Jo to see this, the proof
that he was finally everything he’d been meant to be. He couldn’t wait to show
it to Chris, Daniel and Gareth. Even Gen, if she’d stuck around. Poor Gen. He
felt sorry for the Own. She’d been forced to be instrumental in destroying a
member of her family, and Gareth… Well, he was told Gareth could barely look at
her. It sounded like her prediction was correct. Gareth hated her.

Zach would have to see what he could do to fix that.

The doorbell rang, scattering the thought, for now at least.
“Pizza!” After all, a man had to have priorities.

“I’ll get it,” Annabelle waved.

Zach settled back down, more tired than he was willing to
admit. He heard the door open and his mouth watered. He hoped she’d remembered
to get pepperoni.

“Oh. I wasn’t expecting you.”

Okay, that doesn’t sound like the pizza man.
Zach sat
up warily, wondering what would put that tone into Annabelle’s voice.

“I know. I need to speak with Zach.”

Zach winced.
Fuck.
Prince Roland Malinborn was on the
front step.

Wait. He called me Zach?
The entire time he’d been at
court he’d either been Zachary or Beckett, never Zach.
What the hell?

Prince Roland and Princess Arianna swept into the room. The
man might be wearing jeans and a polo shirt, but he still managed to dominate
the room. Not even the Princess had the same presence Roland did. Zach’s wolf
sat up and took notice, just as it had the first day they’d met.

Zach might be an Own, but he was
not
the Prince.
Instinct demanded obedience to the ruler he’d pledged himself too, even if the
man could be an ass at times. He bowed his head in respect. “Roland. Arianna.”

Roland’s eyes widened a fraction as he took a seat across
from Zach. “Zach.” He crossed his legs, looking casual. Zach wasn’t fooled for
a moment.